Lady Leopards Blank Panthers in 14 Inning Affair – Softball

Louisville 1, Perry 0, 14 Innings

The Louisville Leopards Varsity Softball Team blanked the visiting Perry Panthers 1-0 in 14 innings Monday Evening at the Diamond of Dreams. With the victory, Louisville remains unbeaten and unscored upon in their 5-0 start.

Pitchers Sarah Cantley and Morgan Harris both pitched 7 innings in the combined shutout. Cantley started the first 7 giving up just 3 hits and striking out 12. She was relieved by Harris who pitched the final 7 frames, gave up only 2 hits and struck out 7. Harris also recorded the victory to improve to 3-0 on the year.

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The Leopards managed just four hits through the first 13 innings, but started the bottom of the 14th with three consecutive singles. Savannah Miner singled to right to start the inning. Then Teagan Rice and Sydney McKeever each reached base via infield hits. With no outs, and the bases loaded, Kaycee Ollis lined out, which was enough to allow Miner to score from third for the game-winning run.

Louisville failed to get a runner aboard until the fifth inning and did not record a single hit until McKeever singled in the seventh. McKeever would finish 3-for-6 to lead the Leopards at the dish. Miner and Rice also had 2 hits a piece.

Perry was led by Starting Pitcher P Gotshall who pitched 11 innings, gave up 0 runs on 4 hits, and struck out 17. K Pireu also pitched the remaining 2 1/3 innings, gave up 1 run on 3 hits, and struck out 4.

Despite the relentless effort of the Panthers pitchers, the Leopards remained unbreakable in the circle and in the field. The shutout is their fifth straight as a team, which is a new Louisville Softball record.

This is the Leopards longest game since the fell to the same Panthers at home 3-1 in 14 innings on April 5, 2000. The only game longer was a 1-0 loss at North Canton Hoover in 15 innings on April 15, 1995. This game also sets the Louisville record for the longest game ever won by the Leopards. It eclipses their 13 inning wins over Northwest in 1994 and more recently against Southeast in 2002.

With the victory, the Leopards have now take 2 out of their last 3 against the Panthers. Perry still leads the all-time-series 24-9, which includes a 12-4 mark at Louisville. LHS is off to their best start since they began the 2011 season 5-0. They will look to match the 1996 squad’s team-best 6-0 start at Minerva Tuesday.

UP NEXT: The Lady Leopards will next travel to Minerva to take on the Lions on Tuesday, April 11 at 5:00 PM.